ICL Mineral Ridge uses defense on Rockets

The Rams shut down Lowellville to post a 14-7 victory.
By DAVE DEVEREUX
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
LOWELLVILLE -- The Inter-County League contest Friday between Mineral Ridge and Lowellville had all the makings of a classic battle of strengths.
The match-up pitted the high-scoring Rams offense, averaging 38 points per game, versus a stingy Rockets defense, which had allowed just 29 points all season.
On this night, however, it was the Mineral Ridge defense that stood tall, giving the offense the opportunity to grind out a hard-fought 14-7 victory over Lowellville in a critical ICL contest.
"We knew going into this season we had to play better defense," Mineral Ridge coach Shawn Brown said. "We've started to click the past few weeks and it's really showing."
Sixth straight win
Mineral Ridge (6-1, 4-0), who came in ranked No. 8 in the Division V, Region 17 playoff rankings, has won six consecutive games. The Rams' 4-0 ICL mark places them in a tie for first place with South Range.
Lowellville, the No. 8 ranked team in Division VI, Region 21, dropped to 5-2 overall and 2-2 in the ICL.
Twice in the first half, Lowellville managed to control the ball for long drives, but was turned away both times by the Rams' defense.
Mineral Ridge quarterback Chris Ault connected with Greg Dominic on a 26-yard touchdown pass to give the Rams an early 7-0 lead.
On the ensuing possession, Lowellville marched 65 yards on 12 plays, but on fourth-and-goal from the 3, the Rams' Levi Leigh corralled tailback Jeff Peterson at the 5.
Drive but can't score
The Rockets threatened again in the second quarter, driving 72 yards on 15 plays. However, again they were stopped on fourth down at the Rams' 23.
Despite almost a 10-minute edge in time of possession, the Rockets found themselves facing a seven-point halftime deficit.
"That's the 'bend but don't break' theory," Brown said. "I mean, wow. I'm really impressed with the defense.
"They really sucked it up," he added. "Their backs were against the wall and they found it inside of themselves."
In the second half, Mineral Ridge established the run mostly by handing the ball to Leigh.
The junior tailback rushed 25 times for 109 yards, including a 4-yard touchdown run early in the fourth quarter, to put the Rams in front 14-0.
The Rams appeared to be stopped at the Lowellville 41, but a roughing the kicker call against the Rockets allowed the drive to continue and turn into a 16-play, 59-yard scoring drive for the Rams.
"We talked about coming out in the second half and trying to see if we could run the football. We really didn't know if we could," Brown said. "We talked to the offensive lineman and they said 'we can handle them upfront.' "
Trailing by 14 points, Lowellville mounted a late fourth-quarter rally.
After senior Jack Noble advanced the ball 35 yards on consecutive quarterback keeper plays, Noble hit Jeff Peterson in the end zone on a 13-yard pass for the final margin.
Leading the Rockets
For the Rockets, Noble carried 11 times for 43 yards, while completing 4-of-10 passes for 71 yards. Peterson added 73 yards on 18 carries and sophomore Lucas Gonzalez toted 11 carries for 66 yards.
"The difference in the game was us not being able to put the ball in the end zone in the first half," Lowellville coach Cliff Jamieson said.
"We score on those drives and we take control of the ballgame," Jamieson added. "But our kids played their hearts out against a good football team. They have nothing to be ashamed of."